Finally, temperature hits 70 degrees at MacArthur

For a brief time right around 4 p.m. Tuesday, the temperature hit 70 degrees at Long Island MacArthur Airport, the first time the thermometer reached that mark in nearly seven months, according to the National Weather Service.

Highs in the mid to upper 60s had been expected, and, indeed, the airport had been registering 67 the hour before. But, when you're talking about just 3 degrees, something small like a minor shift in wind direction "could make a difference," said Joey Picca, weather service meteorologist in Upton.

The last time it was 70 degrees at MacArthur was Oct. 17.

The first day to hit 70 at the airport last year was close to a full month earlier -- April 9, which is also the average day for first 70s, based on weather service data going back 30 years.

Since 1984, Long Island's weather records for the airport in Ronkonkoma have been kept by the weather service. From 1949 to 1983, the records were maintained by the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton.

Looking ahead, Picca said a warm front is expected to approach the area later in the week, meaning possible weekend highs in the upper 60s, even low 70s for parts of the Island.